Power Struggle (Open)

[Adam]

The three remaining Stones of the Dragons sat on a table, heavily warded, and protected by Brigade. It was Samael’s original intention to gather the Stones as he unified the Clans, but the intervention of a Celestial prevented such a case, but through it came opportunity. A deal that could be made to ensure Samael kept the power, but at the same time ensured that the Celestials could not retaliate as they had before in the past. Samael was to unify his Kingdom, and although he did not agree to prove it, he vowed to himself to prove the extent to Vlad’s threat to the others, something that was far too easy to do. However, it came with grave consequences, as it did not just prove to the other dragons of the necessity of unification, but it showed Samael that his powers were indeed needed. When Vlad unleashed Nergal onto the battlefield, it proved to Samael just how far the Vampire King was willing to go to stop someone in their tracks. This Vampire King, who happened to also be the God of Death incarnate proved to Samael that without his powers, even unification may not have been enough. It was time for him to stop negotiating with Celestials that failed to see the big picture, time to put his people first, and lead them through the oppression, and the evil wrought upon them by Vlad. Most importantly, it was the power to exact revenge in the name of fallen Dragons everywhere.

The Stone were the only answer. No. The power within the Stones was the answer. Samael’s power. Bestowed upon him by the fates that feared him so. As he, Lidija and Luna arrived, Samael followed the newly appointed Councilor of the Air Clan to the Vault, where powerful items such as the Stones were kept under constant protection. Even now, with all of the magic protecting the Stones, keeping their power warded from others to pick up on, Samael could feel them. No matter how powerful that warding, the stones were forever linked to Samael, and he would know where they were , no matter how hard others would try to hide them. The Dragons that were in Brigade, who saw Samael often tilted their heads in respect of the King as they passed. Although they belonged to Brigade, many dragons still respected and revered the Hun’Drog for his power, and saw him as a great King who would lead the Dragons to glory. However, here, their loyalty was to Brigade and each other. Samael looked around at all Brigade members, and kept an eye on any that may try to act out of place. They knew why Samael was here, and many would protest against his return to power. Which was why Samael called to be taken to the Stones as soon as possible. He knew that many would still try and protest, or “negotiate” with him in not taking in the power. He had to do this now and quick, before an unnecessary fight took place that need not happen.

Entering a large building, and then taking stone steps far underground, the three reached the Vault. Once the door opened, Samael could see in the distance, the three stones. His final piece of power sat within each of those gems, and as soon as he destroyed each of them in his hands, he would at long last be returned to full power. Approaching the table, Samael circled the Stones at long last, first picking up the Fire Stone, which housed his ability over Fire by more than just his use of it through his breath, and his Titan-like Strength. His other hand traced around another Stone: the Earth Stone. Earlier, when he had fought against Lidija, he had a chance to take the Stone then and take in its power, but beyond all temptation and desire, he was able to resist. Part of it was due to something that he was beginning to feel for Lidija. Just having her around made him feel powerful enough, but more so than that, she deserved a true warrior, the one that Samael could definitely be when powered by these Stones. Taking both the Earth Stone and the Fire Stone in his hands, he looked at both Luna and Lidija and grinned. “Thank you…” he said to both of them with a humbled smile, “today we turn the tides of the war. Today, we strike back against Vlad with a Destructive power that he will never comprehend. Destruction is my power, and my gift to him. And through...these...stones…” His voice became tense, as he gripped the stones tightly in both of his hands, feeling the power draining from them and back into himself. The power was all too familiar to him, as he felt himself once again becoming Destruction, incarnate. As the Fire Stone cracked in his hand, followed by the Earth Stone, energies began to flow from them and encircle Samael, filling his body with their Primordial power, and blackening the skies above Brigade, as the ground began to groan as if in horrific pain, and lightning cracked across the skies, as if threatening to whip the planet with a flash of lightning that could destroy it.

Samael felt the power flow through him, and momentarily, his eyes began to glow an abnormal red, but as he closed his eyes, his pupils were back to normal again. However, Samael was visibly different somehow. His aura was now brighter, yet also darker in so many ways. Samael walked towards a weapon stand, holding an assortment of weapons, and picked out a dagger. Thrusting the dagger at his chest, Samael felt as the blade crushed against his flesh before shattering into thousands of pieces onto the floor. In another demonstration, he telekinetically pulled a fist-sized piece of rock from the far corner of the room’s floor and brought it into his hand. With a simple twitch of his hand’s muscles, he demolished the rock into pea gravel. A smile, followed by a laugh flashed across Samael’s face as he at long last felt the power that was once taken from him long ago once more within his body. It was now time for the final stone, as he began his approach for the final piece of his power.

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Music that plays as Samael crushes the Earth and Fire Stones and returns to 3/4 Full Power:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=t87GTMm1vg0

[Deleted]

Minerva ran into the room, her eyes big and alarmed as she realized what was going on. "No!" She called out, basically yelling it in protest. This could not be happening.... Please, don't let this be happening. "Please, no!" She said, as she fell to her knees in defeat. She watched as the stones' power took possession of him and agony filled her eyes. She felt as though she had failed, as though nothing that would happen now would mean anything now that this was happening once more. Now that she failed once more. She ignored the fact that she was sitting on her knees in a cold vault, as nothing would matter anymore if Samael truly went through with this. "Zu'u funt... Zu'u ful krosis, zu'u funt... Bormah, zu'u bolog do hi..." She begged, softly, no longer caring who heard her. Or even what they thought of her words. Of course there was a part of her that cared, but right now she said these words on purpose, instead of letting them slip away from her.

She saw and felt what was happening around her and she felt like she was one with the earth around her, as she too was in pain now. Her eyes then found Lidija. "Monah, dreh ososfin, daar los ni what hi laan. Daar los ni what fen drun muz drem. Please, dreh ososfin." She said, begging her. She knew that it was risky to tell them exactly who they were to her and to each other, but she was at a loss of things she could do. She couldn't let the world end again, knowing full well that if this would happen this time, it would be on her. It would be her fault, her responsibility and she wouldn't be able to live with herself if she let this happen and she would survive to tell about it. There was no way she could go back in time a second time, doubting it very much that her body would be able to take that. She knew that it sounded immensely selfish, but she didn't really care about this right now. She had failed, that was all that went through her head now.

Her eyes went to her father and saw his turn red and she knew he was different. This was honestly agony to watch happen. She felt a sadness take hold of her, yet she wasn't going to show it to him, or to anyone. She refused to show her deepest sadness, her deepest hopelessness and her deepest dread. They could see her agony, her dread and her hopelessness, but that was because she wanted them to see this and because she couldn't hide that. She didn't want to. She watched the demonstration happening in front of her and closed her eyes for a moment. "Hi fen oblaan fin lein. Hin hrenom fen kos fin dinok do mu pah. Daar golz fen ni drum drem, nust fen drun kein ahrk dinok." She said softly, knowing her words probably fell on deaf ears.

---

1. I failed... I'm so sorry, I failed... Father, I beg of you.
2. Mother, do something, this is not what you want. This is not what will bring people peace. Please, do something.
3. You will end the world. Your madness will be the death of us all. These stones will not bring peace, they will bring war and death

[Lidija Ahlgren]

It was an odd feeling to be drawn to something so powerfully.

Never before in her life had she felt so strongly for someone or something as she did now. The mere thought of parting was anguish and she could not explain it nor did she have anyone to speak to about it. On this day more than others it seemed less selfish of her to feel this way about their king. While he was a god in his own right, today he was to assume the power he promised to hold off on to appease his council. He accomplished something she did not think possible with only a fourth of his true power, what chance did the Sylthanian hordes have against him once he was whole? Lidija went from hating them with a fiery passion to be swelled with pride by her new home, her nation. It was a massive turn around that was still taking hold and had yet to figure it all out.

They approached and entered the Brigade Headquarters with all possible haste, dressed for battle in case the need arise. Like the warriors of her people, she wore a single pauldron held fast by leather straps, leather breeches, boots and wore a sleeve of scale mail over her left arm. Her sword, newly polished, sat at her right hip covered by her travelling cloak. She was prepared for the worst this day, yet dared to hope for the best to see him soar to new heights. Down winding hallway they traversed until they at last came before their prize. Once she laid eyes on she knew why he coveted them, even she was drawn to them deep down and her body ached to close fist around the earth stone once more. Such a powerful feeling to be in possession of one stone, she could not fathom four.

As each stone passed through his fingers she watched with joy, envy and pleasure to see him so elated. Her heart beat faster each time he consumed a stones power, almost as if it were a silent promise of her own. She was excited yet afraid to see his true power at the same time. Such a rush, what it was to truly feel alive in the moment and it was made possible by him. Never could she have foreseen that her future would be directly tied to his but here she stood as a witness. "We will send him to the afterlife he so longs for. All hands will be set to purpose and we will not stop until decisive victory is won." she added, fanning the flames of his blood lust. She too would see him fall as well as the demons involved in her homes demise. "I would have the heads of demons on a pike and those known to consort with them." she said.

Before she could finish however the strange woman from the battlefield came marching through the door. Had she been asked to come along by Samael? If so she had not known of this, then again she was not entirely privy to all that he did. Tilting her head to the side she eyed the woman as she rambled on in draconian, a language that she did not speak or fully understand. There were fragments that she understood, certain words but she could not piece them all together and it made her frustrated. How could she stand among them yet she could not speak the mother tongue of her own people?

"What does she say?" Lidija asked as she only caught two words out of them all. Mother and please were the only two words she truly understood that held any significance. Yet to her they held no real meaning when spoken by this girl even if she could not deny that she was also drawn to Minerva. For reasons she could not explain she felt compassion for this woman even if she had never met her before that night on the field of battle.

[Luna Dragonwing]

The official ceremony was going well from what Luna had observed thus far. Samael had taken the stones and the power coursed through him with such power it was nearly blinding. She had a moment of fear when she saw his eyes go red with the power that he absorbed and a creeping sense of doom washed over her, chilling her from her stomach and rippling down her spine in intensity. Self control kept her from hugging herself along with a force of sheer will and stubbornness.

Minerva running in and trying to stop the proceedings received a raised eyebrow, "I was unaware you had a daughter that disapproved of you claiming the stones, Hun' Drog." she said quietly wondering why it was everyone seemed to come in too late to actually stop anything from actually happening, "It would seem that the fates are playing a cruel trick here. First Teodora is late in stopping you from claiming the Air Stone and then your daughter fails to stop you from claiming the others."

There was no tone of condemnation more of confusion, "Kulaas, would you like to rest? It seems as though this event has overwhelmed you." This was said as respectfully and as kindly as she could manage. Luna realized that it might seem as though she was being condescending to the young woman but she was honestly concerned that this young woman's instability was the result of trauma from the war. She herself had not been present, not being a fighter in any capacity but she knew that there were those who came back different after warfare, "We have people you can speak with if your mind is troubled, Kuulas and there is no shame in seeking them out. Many of the bravest warriors have unburdened their mind to the healers of the brigade and such visits are confidential."

She could think of nothing else to offer, "I fear we have interrupted a family discussion. If you like we can depart or pospone this event until everyone is feeling better." She had no idea how the blonde dragoness could not know what her own child was saying but it was not for Luna to question. Her job was to see things went smoothly and so she put her mind to that task.

[Adam]

The power. It was indescribable in an infinite number of ways, and he was not even at full power yet. The power of the stones flowed inside of him like a mighty current, linking to one another like a chain, strengthening each other, and Samael as a whole. Even now, Samael felt his aerokinetic powers triple with the power of three stones resonating in him now. Even so, the final stone would be the final thing needed to further magnify his power to divine levels. By this point alone, Samael felt as if he could destroy Nergal again, even now in his father’s undead form. A fitting end for his father, to allow history to repeat itself. As he looked into Lidija’s eyes, his desire for her became stronger. He held out his arms in a way that showed that he was keeping his word, and that their vengeance was equally at hand. He smiled as she smiled, and suddenly, Samael almost forgot about the final stone. Having Lidija at his side since his crowning made him feel even mightier than before. He could not understand it just yet, but soon, Samael would realize that he would merge the Afterlife with Yalanze for her. Deep down, a feeling that Samael had only ever felt for combat was now being felt for the warrior that he once called an enemy. Although, part of him tried to hide it at first, he could not deny that they both deserved those feelings that had begun to form and develop, and he did not want to share them with anyone else buy her. Even with his mighty powers now, Samael wanted a sign, anything that would have told him to act on his feelings. Pride and Glory be damned to the Abyss, if he could not share in the spoils with the one he finally saw as his equal.

But then, the dark realization came that now that he was so close to full power again, he would only ever be able to share in the spoils if he defeated Vlad with this power. A power, that Samael saw as the key to the war. If there was ever to be a future, then he knew that he would have to break the final stone and become the being that he was destined to become. However, as he went to reach for the stone, he heard a scream, and suddenly saw Minerva enter the room, begging Samael not to. “Have you lost your mind!?” Samael snapped at her as she fell to her knees, begging in the human tongue, “What is the meaning of the intrusion Minerva?” Samael asked, before she began to speak in the draconic tongue, and what she said next caused an alien feeling within Samael to come to life for the first time ever. He looked on Minerva with the realization that she was more than just a dragon, or an oracle as she had claimed...she was his daughter? Confusion settled in Samael’s eyes, as he looked upon the girl as she suddenly turned to Lidija, and began to speak. Everything finally came together the moment he heard Minerva address Lidija as Mother. For the first time, everything became clear to Samael as to the mystery behind Minerva, and why she was so mysterious. Even Samael was aware of the power of time travel, and that the rumors about the portals were that they could bring someone to the past, if that was where they were needed. The reasoning behind her arrival, and why Samael had felt connected to her for so long was explained. Why he had her accompany him without worry of betrayal. Why he trusted her so easily, it was because of the connection that all dragons held with their parents/offspring. A powerful bond that let a dragon know when their own were in danger, and why he came to her protection against Nergal. As he looked at Lidija, he realized that the sign he had asked for had been ironically answered in the form of a dragon girl from the future. Suddenly, Samael could see the resemblance in Minerva between himself and Lidija.


As Lidija asked what Minerva had said, he looked at her with disbelief in his eyes, as if he did not rightly know, for once, how to explain this. “She’s...our daughter...” Samael explained suddenly, as if he didn’t rightly believe what he said, himself, “the connection to her, the desire to protect her, the...familiarity within her...it’s the link. There is no other way she could be so connected to our emotions otherwise. All dragons are spiritually linked to their children… and this is no different.” Although Minerva obviously said more than that, it was the only thing that Samael could process in his mind. Within this young woman stood Samael’s past, present and future, and suddenly, it was as if the war, Vlad, Nergal, everything else that threatened Samael was on the back burner of his mind. He looked at the girl before him for the longest time in disbelief, as if he no longer knew who she was, despite being fully aware. He could not describe the feeling, but what he did know, was that the feeling suddenly dwarfed his feeling of desire to become whole in power again. Samael took a slow, concentrated breath through his nostrils and out his mouth, looking at Minerva with what felt like a shortness of breath. The stern warrior, who once ran, non-stop for five long days, as a native beast of his homeworld chased him through the Badlands of his homeworld before killing it on the fifth day, now stood to face his future, his daughter. There was so much confusion within Samael as he looked Minerva in the eyes with disbelief, momentarily stunned by the revelation. So much that Samael needed to understand, and yet, within, he felt the power within him surging.

An ordinary person could not withstand the power of a single stone for long, and those with strong wills could often go mad if they held onto a stone for too long, but to wield more than one was said to have been suicide. Utilizing all four stones had never been thought aloud from the safety of a private room, and never amongst others. The Clan Elders that kept the stones safe feared the power of one, but with three out of four now coursing through Samael’s body, urging him to finish and become complete again, his body ached tremendously, the longer he went without crushing the final stone while within his vicinity. Yet, as powerful as these divine stones were, not even they could wrestle Samael from the realization of what was going on. It was only when Luna spoke at last, that Samael finally decided to explain what was happening now. “This may not make much sense, but I do not think that I have a daughter...yet.” He said to Luna.

“Tell me the truth, Minerva…” Samael spoke, taking a few steps towards her, but coming nowhere near to closing the gap between them, looking back at Lidija before looking at Minerva again, “Are you our future daughter? More so, are you here to try and stop me?” His voice was inquisitive, yet unnervingly shaken. It was as if there was an invisible wound in his side, like the revelation had already dealt its blow, and she had yet to even voice the truth. As Luna offered to postpone the event, Samael’s eyes shot forward towards Luna and then back at the Ice Stone. “No. We...we have to do this…” Samael said to Luna to quickly show that he was still wanting to finish this, “Minerva, whatever has happened in the future, whatever I do, we can avert it still, but I have to finish the ascension. Whatever is destroyed in the future can’t compare to what Vlad will do if I do not do this…”

He couldn’t have been the reason she was here now. Vlad was the enemy, not him, but the more he looked at his daughter, and the fear in her eyes, the more he felt the creeping feeling of devastation fill him. Now, Samael knew why things were the way they are now. Yet, he could not stop now. Too much of the power rested within him. He could no longer go being incomplete. The Ice Stone yearned to be part of him as much as he wanted to be part of it. His eyes began to glow red once more as he looked at the stone longingly, wishing to assimilate its power.

[Deleted]

The realization that her mother didn't speak the Draconic language was surprising to say the least. Yet, she understood it as well, as her mother didn't spend as long as the others did among her own kind. Same would presumably go for Seth, her uncle. Still, it surprised her in a sense, as she hadn't even thought of the possibility that she didn't understand her. She viewed her mother and the rest be dressed for battle, just like she herself was always dressed for battle. Especially lately. Especially since her world was destroyed and she traveled here. She knew that she couldn't and shouldn't let her guard down and yet, she did, time and time again, she let her guard down and slipped up. This was all just really confusing and really, REALLY painful for her and that was putting it mildly. Very, very mildly.

In a way, her mother's words scared her, as she knew what her mother was, who she was and to hear her talk like this... It seemed so unlike her, but this was something her eyes didn't betray her on. It wasn't her place to tell them what they would, could be gods of, even if her mother had never even been a Goddess herself, with how she was prematurely killed by her father. Her eyes went to her mother, seeing how she didn't understand what she wanted and then to Luna, hearing what she said. "Fate is not playing a cruel trick on us, Luna. Fate is repeating itself." She said, with sadness in her eyes, as she looked down for a moment. She shook her head and looked at Samael, before her eyes landed back on Luna once again. "I got no time to rest, not until my last attempt either succeeded or failed and I know what outcome it will have on the world I know. The world I once knew." her eyes went down to the ground as an almost unbearable sadness took hold of her, almost choking her, with the knowledge that if she failed now, it would all be for nothing. She ignored Luna's further words with ease, knowing that the woman probably thought she had lost her mind. That would truly be irony if that was the truth, but she was sane, she knew what was going on. She wasn't losing it, even if some people might disagree.

"No, I have not lost my mind, I am as sane as ever." She spoke, when he asked her if she lost her mind. In a way, it was rich, coming from him, but this, in a way, made this funny even. She knew that he understood her draconic words, knew that they registered in his head. She slowly, shakily stood up on her feet and looked at her father. She made eye-contact with her father when he told her to tell him the truth. She kept standing where she was, when he took a few steps towards her. She nodded, when he asked her if she was their future daughter. "I am." She said calmly, or as calmly as was possible right now. She answered both his questions right here and now, when he asked her if she was going to stop him. "You don't have to do this, you can still stop. Please, don't go through with this, Father." She spoke, begging him to stop once more. She shook her head when he said that whatever happened in the future could still be averted, that he had to finish his ascension. She looked at him sadly, when he said that whatever is destroyed in the future couldn't compare to what Vlad would do, if he didn't do this. "You're wrong. It's not Vlad that will be the biggest threat to this world. It's you." She said, letting his words register in his mind for a moment. She hoped they had the same effect she was going for, as she looked at him and at the rest present.

She couldn't tell him what he did that still hurt the most to her, that he killed her mother. She couldn't do that, say that. Not that. You will lose your mind, you will not only destroy something small, you will destroy everything. You will destroy the world. My world, the future. I can not go back to my own timeline, because it no longer exists." She said softly, as she took a step forward and looked at him, her whole body shaking in fear and sadness, as she tried to keep her voice even and her eyes calm. She knew she was failing rapidly and she knew that right now, nothing she said could matter to him. She knew that the stones were calling him. Even now and that not even she would be able to stop hin from grabbing this kind of power for himself. She knew that his madness was already settling in, it couldn't be that this wasn't the truth. The truth that no matter what she did, she was destined to fail and he was destined to destroy everything she held dear. She swallowed a lump in her throat and looked at Lidija, her mother for a moment. The woman seemed passive right now, but she had no idea what could possibly go through her mind right now. How this could change in just a moment.

[Lidija Ahlgren]

Her expression mirrored that of Samael's, confusion and frustration that the moment had been halted. If they did not seize this moment to do this, something would most assuredly go wrong. Lidija would not see her only chance at closing her past robbed from her, she needed this to happen. Yet she could not bring herself to be angry with Minerva for whatever reason it seemed beyond her. The way the woman pleaded seemed heartfelt, as if she knew something that they did not about this entire ordeal. Yet if she did then why had she remained quiet for so long knowing what would happen? At any point before this moment she could have shared this with them and seen it fall on attentive ears and now it fell short.

If it had been delivered to her in any other way she would have been stricken with a blush. Yet now she only felt confusion as to how this came to be. The girl was much too old for her have been born from her womb, it made no sense to Lidija unless she was missing something. Had her mind been wiped of some crucial piece of information that she could not recall? Shaking her head in disbelief, she took a single step forward as she looked into Minerva's eyes. There was a pain in them that she had come to know on her own for so long. A look of abandoned hope, as if whatever haunted her was beyond her power to repair. It was the only thing that made her even remotely receptive to her insanity.

Raising a hand to rest upon his shoulder, she shook her head at him to halt him. "Wait, we must hear her out at the very least. She came all of this way with a clear purpose and the look in her eyes does not betray malevolent intent. Whatever happened to her, she has seen something horrifying that she cannot forget." she said as she drew closer to Minerva. Resting both hands on either shoulder she looked her over up close. There was a long pause as she let her take it all in, let her soul search that of Minerva's. Lidija could not deny the feeling that welled within her breast as she looked upon Minerva.

"There is no alternative, Minerva. If this is not done we will never defeat Vlad. He is death incarnate, what chance do we stand against such odds without your.. fathers power?" she said. It took a lot of resolve for her to say that aloud as she had not fully accepted what she felt to be truth. Yet statements such as hers would influence the course of history and not entirely in a good way. Now Lidija had no idea how, when but it happened and she wondered how it came to be that she would be with child. Never had she been able to see beyond the warrior, never could she have ever assumed she would create a life within her own.

Taking Minerva into her own arms, she hugged the woman for it was all she could think to do. "If it comes down to your future, I will stop him with my own hands. I am stronger than the woman in your future, I can handle Samael should things take a turn for the worse." she said with confidence. Of course she had no idea the depths of his current power nor did she have any idea how she would stop him if he lost control. Her desire to be rid of her own past clouded her judgement in this moment, there was simply no other way forward.

"We will find a way to alter what is to come and fix the mistake the cosmos' have made." she said.

[Luna Dragonwing]

This was almost too much to bear. She'd lost the Commander of the Fighter's Division during reunification and now there was this family drama playing out before her. It made her head pound and it took everything she had not to just curse roundly. Exhaling softly she pinched the bridge of her nose, "Samael you seem to destroy everything you touch. Even something as simple as a stone claiming is buggered all to hell with you isn't it?"

Hearing Minerva get all preachy forced Luna's blue gaze forward to the young dragoness, "If it was your duty to stop your father from claiming the stones as you say then you have obviously failed in that task. I do not know you Minerva and I bear you no ill will but this is the SECOND time fate has tried to stop Samael from achieving his goals and failed. If this was your goal then why weren't you here sooner?" Her voice was soft and rose towards the end of it before she shook her head and exhaled, "You will do what you choose whether I sanction it or not. My presence here is completely useless therefore I shall leave you to solve your family issues in peace. My words are wasted on you, Samael. I shall not stay where there is dissension and discord even within your own family. I watched my friend sacrifice himself at the reunification ceremony. I need to make sure the new Commander of the Fighters Division has his commission since the old one died during YOUR ceremony. I also have to plan Bellator's funeral. This is on top of the fact that a Commander of one of our Divisions was nearly killed during your war with the Vampires."

So saying Luna turned her back on the dragons in the room and walked out, leaving the guards to look between themselves. The Brigade had had it's members injured and killed and now that they had tried to host the dragon leadership they were subjected to family discord. It was insulting and a waste in Luna's mind. How much more insult would she and the Brigade have to suffer before the powers that be struck Samael down or accepted him? Luna did not know but she also knew she wanted to be no where near him so long as blood of the brigade was on his hands.

Luna's thoughts on the situation.

[Corvin]

Much needed to be done, of that much, Corvin was aware of. Samael reforming his Kingdom had went according to plan, and it was only a matter of time before Brigade opened the Vault to allow Samael access to the Stones. It was a powerful place, the Vault, and was enchanted accordingly with sophisticated spells, and wards in all the right places to ensure that Corvin could not just walk in, unless it was opened. Any spell, any curse that Corvin tried to use to unlock the Vault was nigh impossible, and even then, the Vault was also “linked” to certain individuals, who would be alerted of the Vault’s unauthorized opening before Corvin would have a chance to sneak in. Corvin knew that the ley lines the Vault was built upon were said to have been fertile magic grounds that Brigade secured in the beginning, and had since built upon. It was through these ley lines, that certain people were spiritually linked. Thus, breaking the links would have been impossible without taking in lethal amounts of magical energy designed to destroy.


Long story short: Corvin could never break the Vault. In truth, it was perhaps one of his very few inabilities. However, that was not to say that he had not planned for a way to break in, and with Samael being the unknowing, faithful pet that he was, Corvin would at long last be able to enter the threshold of the Vault and access the one thing he needed from it more than ever. In order to access the Vault, he needed a way to access it without hesitation. It was only when he had gotten word from one of his shadow agents that he had sent to tail the Princess, that she had Samael kill her to help her, that Corvin had received the grandest of ideas. There were already many agents that had reported that there were rumors that a Celestial Dragon has already arrived on Yalanze, with intentions to stop Samael. If she knew that he was marching towards the Stones this very second, then she would be there to try and stop him. He knew that there was no way that she was trust a being like Corvin, and would sooner smite him than hear him out, but he knew of ways to make contact with the Celestial anonymously, without any knowledge of his identity. It would not matter who sent the message then, the moment she knew that Samael was about to ascend, she would be there to stop him before the connection broke.

Corvin had already stalked the halls of Brigade, having no fear of being stopped, as publically, he was merely a Lord of Mythregal on diplomatic business. However, as he turned the hall, he looked just in time to watch Samael and Luna take another turn, but it was the third party member that he was worried of: Lidija. Watching her on the field in Badrul confirmed to Corvin that she would fail to kill Samael, but it was an unexpected twist to see her in the Hun’Drog’s company. It only confirmed that Samael was capable of forming allegiances, even with bitter enemies. Perhaps an extent of mercy within the warrior, when many believed that he was a ruthless killer. Then again, even now, Samael was probably saving his true strength for the war. Nevertheless, her allegiance to Samael, and the arrival of Seth in Badrul meant that they were well aware of Corvin’s involvement and thus his responsibility in the destruction of her village, and the mindless slaughter of its people. He would have to keep an even careful eye upon her, as he made his way down the hall, stopping just a few floors above the Vault before feeling the power of the ley lines emitting its power above.

Pulling out a small set of prayer beads, he held them close with his eyes closed. The beads, etched in cloaking wardings, would keep Corvin’s identity an absolute secret. To any passerby, he was simply praying, which was not uncommon, but surprising to see Corvin do. Another effect of the beads, were their ability to directly contact anyone that the wielder thought of. In his mind, came the Celestial that was after Samael. Using the images he saw from his agent’s eyes, he felt a link between himself and the Celestial, and rather than see the Celestial in her human form, he saw her in her true form. Although, he was unseen.

“Celestial!” He called out, “CELESTIAL!! SAMAEL HAS WENT TO BRIGADE FOR THE STONES!! HE’S ATTEMPTING TO ASCEND!! YOU MUST STOP HIM!!!”

Opening his eyes, he quickly sat up, and made his way down the stairs, towards the Vault. Suddenly, even Corvin could feel the sickness of the Planet, as Samael took in the power of the Stones. Waves of incredible, destructive, divine energy emitted through the stones of the building, and even Corvin himself was overwhelmed with an unfamiliar feeling to him, that could only be defined as fear for any other person. The power that emitted from the dragon was only ever familiar to Corvin when he was within Vlad’s presence, but unlike Vlad’s, the Hun’Drog’s power didn’t make Corvin feel twice as dead inside as he normally did. No. This made himself feel as if he was being destroyed from the inside out. When his magically attuned body felt the wave of energy, it was as if he was going to explode at the subatomic level, and it was as if he faced oblivion when the waves ended. Everyone else around him faintly noticed the power, let alone the cracks of lightning in the skies, and the painful groans of the planet, that even Corvin felt. Falling to the ground for a moment, Corvin uttered, “Oh Satan…” A phrase that not even he uttered. Not that he doubted Lucifer’s existence, but he did not owe his success to him, nor pray to Him for help, but when he felt Samael’s power, even Corvin felt his own mortality. Holding the beads to his chest, he pictured the Celestial again and with a hoarse groan, said, “Hurry…”

Corvin finally made it to the Vault, only to find Lidija, Samael, and Minerva and the Diplomat, Luna, in the center of the room. All of their eyes were focused on Minerva, but Corvin dared not enter, lest his presence became aware. No. He would need the Celestial to provide the distraction. However, as Fate would have it, he would not have to wait long for his chance to sneak in. With the fury of Luna, making herself known, he knew that he could slip past the guards long enough to move into the shadows, and work his way around to the back. Barely managing to slip past the Air Dragon, he moved towards the back, where he positioned himself close towards the Stone. The prayer beads would keep him hidden from the Celestial’s nigh-omnipotent gaze, just long enough to distract everyone while Corvin stole the Stone from them. Once in his hand, it wouldn’t matter if they caught him or not. The Ice Stone was near unlimited magical power, and in his hands would ensure his protection long enough to escape. Corvin would take the Stone to Vlad, but first, he would take a small, grain-sized sample for himself. In the end, it would be the most crucial piece of the entire war.

[Teodora]

In this instance she was allowed through the warding of the brigade with the aid of Agatha. Yet even with all of her plotting and planning she was still a step behind Samael. Already they had arrived for the stones and the spell was not in place. It was almost as if these events wanted to play out and would keep trying no matter how many times they were thwarted. Destiny was frustrating that way, yet she refused to believe that this was how things were suppose to go. As she meditated over her alter to prepare herself she was interrupted by a rather obnoxious shouting that she could not pin point. Who would give Samael up like this? Who else even knew of what was going on here in the Brigade? An even greater mystery that she would solve once this was all over.

Corvin's only reply was an ear splitting roar from the beast it's self as she vanished from their connection. In the room they all gathered in a white flash filled the room before retreating back to the shadows. Before them stood Teodora with draconian runes covering her features. This specific spell boosted her magic, allowing for her presence here right now. It worked like an anchor spell, when she was wounded heavily or exhausted her physical body would be ripped through the ley lines of the world back to the place she originally transported herself from.

"It is not too late to turn from this path. Your actions have set things in motion that cannot be undone, things that will shake the world to the core." she warned one final time. If she had to fight him finally she would, Teo would fall here before she let Yalanze be destroyed. Everything she now loved was here and she would demand that he be made to see reason. Even Minerva begged him for the same thing, yet like all who tasted power he was addicted. Motioning towards Minerva, she took a step between him and the ice stone.

"Listen to her, she speaks words you should consider. There are other options we might explore yet, we need but time.." she said with a pleading tone. She no longer used a commanding voice nor did she speak of his arrogance. It actually sounded like this time she had given in, she was begging him to desist. "Already I can feel great evil within you, the influence of the stones digs deep." she warned.

[Adam]

Samael was just one more step from achieving what he had fought so hard to accomplish. One final step to reclaiming what was taken from him so long ago, and here he stood, between a girl claiming to be his future daughter, and now the presence of the Celestial. Even now, with such raw power emulating from Samael’s body, he could sense that the Celestial was prepared, her own power magnified in some way. Nevertheless, Samael’s eyes irradiated a threateningly red hot hue, warning the Celestial not to interfere further. However, as he turned back to Minerva, he could not bring his own power to the surface to do anything against her. However, as he approached her, he took a long look into her own eyes, before looking into Lidija’s. The news came as an incredibly surprise, however there was no time to show emotion. No time to drop his guard, even now. Samael could feel the pull of the stone, the need to become complete. Like a super magnet, the power within the stone longed to be part of him. There was almost nothing else in the room that could pull his concentration from its call, save one: The young dragon from the future, that had for a while, made Samael question his decision making. Why he had not just imprisoned the girl before hand, and why he questioned what he did now made sense, but even so, the power within him told him not to trust her. That the Celestials would do anything to ensure he never became complete. Placing his own bare hand upon the side of her face, and placing another hand within Lidija’s he closed his eyes, and decided that the only way he would know the truth, was if he saw it with his own eyes.

””Zii’Yiir!!”Samael called out, suddenly encasing the three of them within a white light. Not once, but twice, Samael had violated sacred law by using the Soul Gaze in order to reach the truth. However, instead of giving Lidija the truth she deserved, it was now his turn to learn the truth, but what he was, would stay with him for the remainder of his life. Within the Soul Gaze, he watched as the final thing Minerva saw as the portal overtook her, was the sudden eruption of what appeared to be the single outline of a man in the center of the explosion. However, he also saw beyond that even. He saw the the destruction he laid waste upon Yalanze as the Dragon King of Destruction. The Dovah’Jun’Aldak. Soon, the visions showed him images of buildings blown away by a mixture of fire and wind, before being swallowed by the planet. Vision of people burning into ash in the winds of oblivion. However, it was the final image that finally drove Samael to his breaking point. A vision that cemented the revelation of truth that Minerva slipped into his ears, proving at long last, the existence of Samael’s greatest enemy: Fate. Samael watched in his everlasting horror, as he stood in the red center of a massive energy mass, as the vision pulled himself, and Lidija and Minerva, who he knew were also watching in utter silence, as the planet of Yalanze erupted in a blaze of destructive light, thus ending the Soul Gaze for all three of them. Through this additional application of the Soul Gaze, each of them now held a portion of his ever-growing power. How long it would remain in them, he did not know, but they would feel more “powerful” from the experience for a temporary time. However, even among this new power surge, they were still overwhelmed by something more powerful: revelation. Not only was what Minerva said the truth; that she was both Lidija and his daughter, but that Samael was to become the Destroyer of Worlds. The God of Destruction. Overwhelmed for the first time in eons, the Dragon King dropped to his knees, looking on in disbelief as he looked at his daughter, and Minerva’s would-be mother, Lidija in the eyes before he let out a sigh, his heart beating rapidly as he struggled to utter the words he needed to say.

Small, efforted grunts came first, before finally, Samael looked Minerva and Lidija in the eyes and said, “Forgive me…” Tears fell from his eyes, looking at them both before suddenly rising, turning towards the location of the stone and approaching it with hasteful speed to complete the ascension. If he was a threat to the world, then when Vlad died, he would destroy himself. Whatever power that influenced him, he would find the willpower. Whatever adamant will that existed within him, it would be sturdy enough to do the job. He would ensure that the future his daughter came to protect would be fixed. However, as he made just the first step, he stopped to find the stone no longer upon the table. Looking up further, he saw, standing before all to see, the demon responsible for the destruction of Lidija’s village. Within his hand, he held the Ice Stone, blue energy rushing from the stone and into his arm, and then illuminating a blue aura throughout his body.

“What a rush!” Corvin declared, placing the stone within his pocket, “I feel...cold, but I feel this grand surge of magical power! I’m linked to your language now...I’m linked to the incredible power of your people’s magic!” Corvin declared, his eyes suddenly turning a demonic blue. Holding out a hand, he conjured ice from out of thin air into an ice ball, and began freezing the inside of the Vault with is newly acquired cryo-powers before looking over at Lidija, a chuckle falling from his mouth as he saw her. “Lidija! The last I saw you, it was too smoky to tell what you were wearing! Tell me, how is Astroth? Did anyone survive your village besides you? I usually never leave anyone alive.” Before anyone could approach to take the stone, he quickly turned around and held out a hand, quickly using the energy of the ley lines and the magical power of the Ice Stone to use a spell to teleport him from the Vault, “Iizstrun’Prus!” he shouted, thinking hard on his estate in Sylthanis, where he kept the necessary components for his final plan to end the war, and ensure his own, personal victory. Within an instant, the blizzard overtook Corvin in a flurry of white snow within his personal vicinity of the room, and then he was gone.



Samael watched what unfolded, and felt a fiery rage flow within when he realized what had just happened was now part of the new history. This was the moment when he should have returned to power. This was the moment when he should have ascended, but because of Minerva’s interference, history was now and forevermore altered. Slowly, Samael turned and looked at the Celestial, his eyes stuck upon her with a mixture of grief and some anger. “You have gotten what you wanted, for now, Celestial,” he said to her, ”Vlad now holds the final stone, and with it, he now knows all of our magic, and will be capable of using the element of water and ice to his advantage. Instead of ending the war early, we have provided the enemy with a new weapon, members of my council, who hold connections to Brigade now hold me in disdain, and now, I am not sure if I am still this planet’s butcherer, or if I even still have an iota of a chance to become its savior, but the world is safer now, besides the war.” Samael’s eyes fired a bright red again and he glared the Celestial in the eyes, “Whatever rivalry between us ends here,” Samael said simply, “from this day forward, our focus is our true enemy: Vlad. I cannot afford to have my own council, and thus my own kingdom fall down upon me now! If we cannot come together, then regardless of what her vision just showed me we are still dead! Vlad has already damned our kind to denial in the afterlife. Unless we win this war, not only do we face the threat of extinction, but we face oblivion. An eternal void when we die besides glory in rising upon the shores of the afterlife. Celestial...Teodora, you have implored whether there is this humanity within me long enough, but now I implore you if you have enough within you to finally work with me to stop Vlad. Perhaps even you understand the seriousness of what he now holds, and what it will allow him to be capable of.” Samael turned from Teo, saying nothing more and looking at Minerva and Lidija, silently. What else could he say to them now? His own heart felt heavy, and these alien feelings of heartache and remorse made him feel sick to his stomach. He knew that his feelings for Lidija had grown greatly over the months, but he was not aware of just how much they had grown, but Minerva standing before him testified that they would share at least a moment of something like love between themselves. At least that much he knew now. But, he could not say anything to them. Whatever he felt he could say, he felt that it was not the right time. He felt as if now that he knew what he was to Minerva, she would only see him as the Destroyer now.

Silently, he walked away from the entrance to the Vault, and out to the outside air of Brigade HQ. Soon, he would need to make haste for Caste Dreadnought to begin his next assault on Sylthanis to retrieve the stones, but he would have to also hold a meeting with the council in their stead. Soon, it would be time for the first council meeting to begin, and the first of many discussions of war.

[Deleted]

Minerva looked at her mother when she stepped forward and looked her back in her eyes, knowing that her mother would be able to recognize the pain in them. She truly felt that what was happening before her, was beyond her power and beyond repair. Like whatever happened in the past, her past, was destined to happen all over again and there was nothing anyone could do about it. She watched as she placed a hand on her father's shoulder and listened to her words, smiling a little, even if it was a shaky smile. When Lidija put her hands on her shoulder, she looked back at her with a calm look when she looked her over up close. She felt how her soul searched hers and felt her heartbeat quicken. It felt unreal, like everything was happening all at once and though it kept being a weird experience, she had felt it before.

She shook her head when her mother told her there was no alternative, refusing to believe that. She knew that it took her quite something to say that Samael was her father, but she respected that and wasn't going to make a big fuzz about it. She still refused to believe that her father taking these stones and these powers was anything good. At this point, she wasn't entirely thinking about the effect she was having, as she accepted a long time ago that coming here might mean that she would cease to exist. She accepted that and knew that if it would come to that, it didn't matter as right now she felt like she failed already. She was a little surprised when Lidija took her in her arms and hugged her, but closed her eyes soon anyway, hugging her back. She felt sad when she heard those words that she would stop him, knowing that she couldn't promise that, even if it meant something that she promised that. She looked up slowly and smiled a little.

She then looked at Luna, once she heard what the woman said to Samael, not agreeing with her, though she wasn't going to go in against her either. Once she was addressed though and she heard what she said, she felt her defenses rise. "It is all nice that you're jusdging me, but what have YOU been doing?" She asked, knowing her voice was as defensive as she felt. She huffed as she listened to how she preached to them and watched as Luna turned her back on them and walked out. Good riddance, she thought, before looking back at her family. When Teodora appeared suddenly, she looked at her and at the draconian runes covering her features. She looked at how the woman motioned towards her and listened to what she said. She too could feel the darkness inside of her father and she knew that this was nothing good. She looked on as her father approached her and held onto Lidija without fully realizing that she was doing so. She then felt his hand on the side of her face and felt a dizziness take over.

Having to see all of this again, made her even sadder than before and she didn't know what to do with herself, though there was nothing she could do right now. When the Soul Gaze ended and a piece of his power soared through her, causing her to feel more powerful for now, though she knew it wouldn't last. She watched as he fell to his knees, knowing that it must be overwhelming for him now. Forgive him? Forgive him for what? She thought, as she frowned and watched as he rose up. She looked at the table where the stone used to be, only to find it gone. "What the hell?" She mumbled, as she frowned, having no idea what happened to the stone. Suddenly, she heard Corvin and turned to look at him. "No!" She pretty much shouted, not believing it what unfolded before her. It didn't seem real. She had come so far... Only to see the last stone be stolen by such a monster? This couldn't be happening.

She looked on as her father's eyes flashed red like that and could almost feel his wrath towards her, though she had no idea what that would look like. She looked at Teodora, as she stayed close to her mother for now. When she saw the remorse in his eyes, she looked at him and placed a hand on his arm. "Hi los mulhaan dii Bormah." She spoke in the Draconic language before her hand hung limply to her side. She then looked at him again, thinking of one more thing to say to him, even if her mother wouldn't understand wgat she just said. "Hi los fin gein daar ofan zu'u di name do 'Mal Tuz' ahrk fin gein wah ofaan zu'u dii zun." She finished saying. She just couldn't let him go before she said what she wanted, that she was not afraid of him. He was still her father. How could she be afraid of him? Looking at him like this, she knew that all she wanted was to have him near her. Have him be her father, be in her life, that was all she could really ask for, wish for. Her wishes and dreams weren't anything big. Just to finally be a family.

---

1. "You are my father."
2. "You are the one that gave me my name of 'Little Blade' and the one to give me my weapons."